On the rolling mountain ranges of the border provinces of Dien Bien and Lai Chau, multi-level boarding schools are being built, opening doors of opportunity for thousands of ethnic minority students. More than just a place to pursue the dream of literacy, these facilities are cultivating human resources and strengthening the national frontier through the sustainable power of education.
On the rolling mountain ranges of
the border provinces of Dien Bien
and Lai Chau, multi-level boarding
schools are being built, opening
doors of opportunity for thousands
of ethnic minority students. More
than just a place to pursue the
dream of literacy, these facilities
are cultivating human resources
and strengthening the national
frontier through the sustainable
power of education.
Party General Secretary To Lam with students of the Si Pa Phin Primary and Secondary Boarding School (January 2026). Photo: Xuan Tu
From Strategic Policy to a "Second Home"
on the Hilltop
In the past, every day traveling to school was an
arduous journey for Vang Thi Hang, a Hmong girl from
the highland commune of Si Pa Phin. As her home was
far from school, it was a true challenge for Hang to reach
school travelling on winding mountain paths, especially
on rainy days when the dirt tracks turned slick with mud.
Today, that journey has been transformed. With the
inauguration of the Si Pa Phin Primary and Secondary
Boarding School, Vang Thi Hang and many other students no longer have to commute daily. The new
school has become a "second home," a place where they
study, live, and nurture their dreams for the future.
Politburo Conclusion No. 81-TB/TW dated July 18, 2025, approving the policy
to build multi-level primary and secondary boarding schools in 248 mainland
border communes. in 2025, 108 schools broke ground nationwide, to complete
construction before August 30, 2026. Among these, the si Pa Phin school in Dien
Bien Province was inaugurated on January 31, 2026.
Party General Secretary To Lam and Party and State leaders
join the inauguration ceremony for the Si Pa Phin Primary and
Secondary Boarding School in Dien Bien Province (January 2026).
Photo: Xuan Tu
Si Pa Phin Primary and Secondary Boarding School is the first facility completed under the Politburo’s policy to invest in multi-level
boarding schools across 248 mainland border communes.
Photo: Tat Son/VNP
General Secretary To Lam visits a classroom at the Si Pa Phin Primary and Secondary Boarding School (January 2026). Photo: Xuan Tu
In the boarding school, Lo Thi Long Nhi, a Thai
student, is gradually developing independence and
social bonds with her peers. She shares her dream of
becoming a policewoman to return and contribute to her
village one day. This dream, seemingly simple, reflects a
profound transformation: as education opportunities
open, the future becomes clearer.
The modern and well-invested campus of the Si Pa Phin Primary and Secondary Boarding School. Photo: Tat Son/VNP
The Si Pa Phin Primary and Secondary Boarding School serves as a hub for learning and development for over 1,000 ethnic minority students. Photo: Tat Son/VNP
The school of Hang and Nhi sits
atop a hill in Si Pa Phin, which in the
H'mong language means “the land
of 18 upside-down bowl-shaped
hills”. Spanning over 6ha with a
total investment of 280 billion dong
(approximately 10.63 million US
dollars), the spacious school boasts
31 classrooms for more than 1,000
students.
In addition to classrooms, it
has 14 specialized subject rooms,
91 boarding rooms, a dining
hall, a library, sports areas, and
a swimming pool - creating a
comprehensive educational
environment rarely seen in border
regions.
"The Si Pa Phin Multi-Level Boarding school is not just an
educational facility; it is a ‘bright spot’ that contributes to
a fundamental shift in the quality of education in border
areas, showing profound humanity."
Hoang Tuyet Ban, Director of the Dien Bien Provincial Department of
Education and Training
An IT class for students at the Si Pa Phin Primary and Secondary Boarding School.
Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP
An engaging Geography lesson for students of class 8A1 in a clean, modern, and fully-equipped classroom. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP
As the school drum beats,
students quickly settle into
specialized classes for Information Technology, Music, or STEM Robotics. This hands-on approach to
learning helps them engage more actively.
“Modern facilities allow us to better integrate theory with
practice and train students in teamwork, logical thinking, and
problem-solving skills,” says Nguyen Van Dup, Principal of Si Pa
Phin School.
For long-time teachers like Vu Thi Luong, the change is
evident in every lesson. “Previously, we lacked visual aids. Now,
with maps, televisions, and projectors, lessons are more vivid and students grasp the material much better,” she said.
Party General Secretary To Lam and Party and State leaders participate in a tree-planting ceremony at the Si Pa Phin Primary and
Secondary Boarding School (January 2026). Photo: Xuan Tu
Hoang Tuyet Ban, Director of the Dien Bien Provincial Department of Education and Training, notes: “The Si Pa Phin Boarding School is not just an educational facility; it is a ‘bright spot’ that contributes to a fundamental shift in the quality of education in border areas, showing profound humanity”.
Highland melodies resonate within a professional music space equipped with a full range of instruments. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP
The artificial turf mini-football pitch, a hub for matches and joyful laughter after class for students at
the Si Pa Phin School. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP
Behind this hilltop school is a major national policy.
Given the demand for boarding schools by over 332,000
students in 22 border provinces, the Politburo has
instructed to build 248 multi-level general boarding
schools in mainland border communes. Thanks to this
policy, schools like Si Pa Phin are turning into reality the
dream of learning for thousands of ethnic students.
Building a “Soft Shield” at the Border
From Si Pa Phin, the multi-level boarding school model
is rapidly spreading to other border areas. Following the 108
schools that broke ground in 2025, an additional 121 schools
were simultaneously being built across 17 provinces and cities
as of March 2026.
The groundbreaking ceremony for six primary and secondary boarding schools in
Lai Chau Province. Photo: Tat Son/VNP
In Lai Chau, where over 80% of students are minorities,
construction is being fast-tracked. The multi-level boarding
school in Phong Tho Commune is a prime example. Construction
is speeding up on the 6-ha site of the 250 billion dong (nearly
9.5 million US dollars) project, which includes a full range of
academic, sports and accommodation facilities.
"Building modern
boarding schools not
only improves learning
and living conditions
but also enhances
health, establishes an
organized lifestyle,
and improve students’
learning ability."
Mac Quang Dung, Director of the Lai Chau
Provincial Department of Education and Training
Students in Lai Chau look over the construction blueprints for the new schools.
Photo: Tat Son/VNP
Construction speeds up at the Phong Tho Primary and Secondary Boarding
School site. Photo: Tat Son/VNP
Duong Vinh Hien, a representative of the construction unit,
said “We have mobilized maximum manpower, sometimes up to
500-600 workers, to meet the schedule while ensuring quality”.
Construction is scheduled to complete in late August , but part
of the project is expected to be put into use by May 19.
Workers weave steel floor frames to ensure safety for the Phong Tho Primary
and Secondary Boarding School project.
Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP
A bustling atmosphere at the construction site of the Phong Tho Boarding
School. Photo: Tat Son/VNP
Mac Quang Dung, Director of the Lai Chau Provincial
Department of Education and Training, emphasized, “Building
modern boarding schools not only improves learning and
living conditions but also enhances health, establishes an
organized lifestyle, and improve students’ learning ability”.
He believes, in the long term, this new environment will raise
intellectual standards, create qualified human resources, and
motivate teachers in disadvantaged areas.
As part of the overall national scheme to build 248 schools,
Lai Chau will build 11 schools in 11 border communes. Five of
these projects broke ground in 2025, with the remaining six set
for construction in 2026.
Construction speeds up at the Phong Tho Primary and Secondary Boarding
School site. Photo: Tat Son/VNP
A bustling atmosphere at the construction site of the Phong Tho Boarding
School. Photo: Tat Son/VNP
On a broader scale, these schools do more than solve
immediate education puzzles; they provide a foundation for sustainable development in border regions, where students grow up and stay
attached to their homes. In this context, education becomes a “soft shield”
protecting the frontier - not with fences or weapons, but with knowledge and
people.
From Si Pa Phin to Phong Tho, from new classrooms to growing dreams, a
quiet but meaningful journey is unfolding where education lights the way to
the future and safeguards the nation’s frontier./.
Story: Ngan Ha
Photos: Tat Son, Thanh Giang/VNP & Xuan Tu
Translated by Hong Hanh